Tooth-brush holder.



G. T. GREER.

TOOTH BRUSH HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1911.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

"GEORGE '1. GREEK, OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA.

TOOTH-BRUSH HOLDER.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, Gsoaos T. Gases, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Roanoke, Virginia, have invented certain Im rovements in Tooth-Brush Holders, of which the foll wing is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide a holder for tooth brushes, which while being of a relatively inexpensive and substantial construction, shall-be thoroughly sanitary and have its parts so arranged as'to effectually cover and protect the tooth brush after it has been inserted. It is further desired that the holder constructed according to my invention shall have its parts so arranged that althou 'h certain of them shall be capable of yiel ing to permit of introduction of the brush, said parts shall thereafter spring or move together so as to wholly or in great measure close the opening through which the brush was introduced, the construction being such that the bristles of the brush shall not en ge the sides of the holder at the time of t e introduction or withdrawal of the brush.

These objects and other advantageous ends I secure as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a perspective view of a tooth brush holder constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2, is a vertical section of the holder illustrating a tooth brush as inserted t-lierein; Fig. 3, 1s a fragmentary vertical section illustrating the lower portion of the holder after the brush has been removed therefrom; Fig. 4, is a transverse section on the line a -a, Fig. 2, and Fi 5, is a plan of one form of stamping 0 metal, paste board, celluloid or the like from which my holder may be made.

As indicated in the drawings,aholderconstructed according to my invention is preferably made of a single piece of sheet material, such as metal, cardboard or other suitable substance stamped or cut in the form indicated in Fig. 5. This piece may be described as consisting of three elongated rectangular pieces 1, 2 and 3, of which the first and last ones have their longitudinal edges connected to the intermediate part 2. Attached to the second longitudinal ed e of the piece 1 is a section 4 having en s of semi-circular form, and a similar section 5 is likewise connected to the second longitudinal edge of the piece 3. The pieces 1,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 14, 1911. Serial No. 633,114.

Patent-ed Apr. 16, 1912.

2 and have at one end sections indicated respectively at 6, 7, and 8, and it is noted that the material of the holder is preferably scored along the lines at which these are connected to the adjacent sections or pieces. At their opposite ends the ])io 'cs l and 3 are provided with projecting flaps or tongues 14 and 15, which, when the material employed is cardboard, may be reinforced by strips 10 and 11 glued or otherwise attached to them and to said pieces 1 and 2. The opposite longitudinal edges of the flaps H and 15 are-preferably formed with cuts extending inwardl as indicated at 12, for a purpose hereina ter noted.

In assembling the structure, the several pieces 4, 1, 2, 3, and 5 are bent along their scored lines of junction so as to have the relative positions indicated in Fig. 4, and thus form an elongated tube or container of rectangular section. withthe part 5 overlapping the part 1. Just prior to such assemly the flaps or tongues 14 and 15 are bent on their lines of junction with the parts 1 and 3 respectively, so that after the formation of the container they keep the relative positions shown in Fig. 3; the material employed being sufficiently resilient to maintain these structures in engagement with each other and to return them to this position after they have been moved therefrom. The extensions or flaps 6 and 8 are bent so that they are in the same plane, and therefore the part 7 may be bent over and parallel with them as shown in Fig. 1, when the various parts are glued or mechanically connected to retain the various positions illus trated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. There is thus formed an elongated container of rectangular section which is fully closed and provided with a base structure formed by the sections 4 and 5, whose ends projccta short distance beyond its ends. These end parts are provided with holes 13 whereby the holder may be attached to any suitable support.

Under conditions of use a tooth brush X is introduced through the lower end of the container, which is supported in the position shown in Fig. 2; the brush head separating the spring flaps l4 and 15 as the brush is entered and thereafter permitting said spring pieces to come together on the neck of the brush so as to practically close the opening on the holder; thus preventing entrance of dust. At the same time the engaged with said bristle portion ofthe brush is not in any way engaged with the holder, since the brush is supported solely b the engagement of the s ring pieces 14 an 15 with its neck or han le, and it is to be noted that said bristles will not be engaged by these spring pieces during introduction of the brush, since the brush head or back catches and se arates them more widely than the width of the bristle portion. The cut or kerfed edges of the flaps 14 and 15 yield to some extent so as to permit said flaps to closely approach each other when the tooth brush has been introduced and inasmuch as the inner edges of the said flaps are curved away from each other, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the tooth brush may be withdrawn, if desired, without permitting the bristles to be parts. It is, of course, understood that the reinforced strips 10 and 11, may under certain conditions be omitted without departing from my invention, although I have found them advisable when the holder is made of paste board, since they add to the strength and resiliency of the flaps themselves.

As is obvious, the holder constructed according to my invention is sanitary, since the bristles are not touched, nor are they engaged and afterward released so as to discharge material within the holder. Moreover the brush is completely inclosed when not in use, except for the small opening between the spring tongues 14 and 15, and even this may be avoided by the use of the kerfing or cutting of the spring pieces 14 and 15. Such cuttin causes the edges of said pieces to be weafier than their central parts, so that when the tooth brush is inserted in the holder, its handle is caused to slide to one side or the other, thus leaving the bristles free from the sides.

I claim 1, A tooth brush holder consisting of a container having a pair of elongated inwardly extending spring structures normally closin one of its ends and movable to permit 0 the introduction of a tooth brush; said structures normally forming a tapering uidcway and engaging each other when the older is empty.

2. A tooth brush holder consisting of a container having one of its ends closed by two inwardly extending separable op ositely placed spring ton ues engaging eac other along an extende line and movable from each other to permit of the introduction of a tooth brush; said tongues normally forming an inwardly extendin guideway and completely closing the holiier when the same is empty. I v

3. A tooth brush holder consisting of a container having two curved members normally closing one end, said members being formed of resilient material and being mounted with convex portions adjacent each other to permit of the introduction and withdrawal of a tooth brush.

4. A tooth brush holder consisting of a body of sheet material folded up to form an elon ated tube, said body of material includlng flaps for closing one end and spring ton ues extending inwardly from the opposlte end to form retaining means for a tooth brush.

5. A tooth brush holder consisting of an elongated closed container having inwardly extending spring tongues hinged to opposite portions of one of its ends, said tongues being separable to permit of the introduction of a tooth brush, and havin cuts in certain of their edges to permitsai edges to yield to a limited extent on the introduction of a brush.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the'presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE T. GREER.

Witnesses:

Ron'r. L. MORGAN, J N0. R. PARKER. 

